Congressman French Hill’s Statement on Trump, Putin Meeting

WASHINGTON – Congressman French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after the meeting and press conference between President Trump and President Putin in Helsinki, Finland today:

“For decades Russia has engaged in propaganda and political shenanigans in Western democracies, and based on publicly available intelligence and information, their efforts in the U.S. elections in 2016 were no different.

“President Trump missed an opportunity today in his meeting and press conference with Russian President Putin to make clear that the United States does not believe Russian denials about meddling in our 2016 elections and that America will not stand for interference of this kind.

“In the House we have passed multiple bills sanctioning Russian interests, increasing U.S. military and intelligence spending, and supporting our European allies from Russian aggression. We continue to call upon the current administration to counter Russia’s political and military actions in Syria, the Middle East, and the Ukraine, and to hold Russia accountable for their attempts to meddle in U.S. and European elections. Undercutting and destabilizing democracies are not the action of friends.”

Background:

Below includes the action Republicans have taken in the last year to counter Russia:

Increased sanctions against Russia by passing the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

Increased U.S. military spending.

Increased U.S. intelligence budget to intercept Russian interference.

Given lethal aid to Ukraine in the FY2018 and FY2019 National Defense Authorization Acts.

Rep. Suozzi and Rep. Hill’s legislation, the Fight Russian Corruption Act, H.R. 2820, to provide further aid to European countries to counter Russian influence and propaganda.

Provided $380 million in election security assistance for states in the FY2018 spending bill. Arkansas received over $4.6 million.

Increased pressure on NATO countries to get to 2% military spending and increased NATO exercises in the Baltic states.